Railway Protection Force (RPF) guns for glory

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is all set to get some extra teeth with the railway ministry planning to arm the force with the famed Heckler and Koch MP5 guns, a staple with several commando units worldwide, including the elite National Security Guard (NSG).

“The induction of MP5 series guns has been an ongoing process being helmed by the Union home ministry since 2009. The NSG was first recipient of these guns. Other paramilitary forces like the RPF will also be getting them in due time,” said an official.

Earlier this week, the railway ministry also sanctioned the purchase of two advanced weapons training simulators that will be used to get RPF personnel to practice their shooting skills without having to expend live ammunition. The railway’s Central Organisation For the Modernisation of Workshops (COFMOW) has been entrusted with the task.

Speaking to dna, PK Agarwal, chief administrative officer of COFMOW, confirmed that order for the two simulators would be placed and that the tender process for it had already been initiated.

“Practising with live ammunition is very expensive. The simulators would be of great help to keep the force fighting it,” said Agarwal.

According to officials, the move is part of the plan to upgrade the RPF’s combat capabilities to the level where in case of a 26/11-type terror attack, it can stall or ward off the attacks till the arrival of specialised anti-terror units like the NSG or the Navy’s Marcos contingents.

One of the most painful images of helplessness that the nation got to watch during the 26/11 terror raid was RPF constables, armed with British vintage 303 rifles, trying to ward off the two terrorists who had entered CST that day. Most of the rifles jammed leaving the constables with little choice but to duck for cover from the assault rifle fire of the two terrorists.

The RPF’s journey towards a better armoury started in 2011 when a decision was taken to arm 15 per cent of the head constables and 10 per cent constables of the 65,000-strong force with AK-47 assault rifles handed down by the Army.

Mumbai’s RPF units on Central and Western Railway were among the first to get these AK-47s in May 2011. This was apart from the 9mm pistols and INSAS and Self Loading Rifles the force already has.